Rainy night Tuesday in the ALCS

The grounds crew at Jacobs Field began rolling up the tarp covering the infield shortly after 5 p.m. because of a weather forecast that appeared to be favorable for playing Game 4. The chance of rain at gametime was 30 percent.

Once they removed the tarp, they began emptying bags of a kitty litter-like material that acts as a drying agent. Other members of the grounds crew used leaf blowers to rid the infield and outfield of some water.

The high-tech drainage system installed when Jacobs Field was built is supposed to be able to handle as much as 12 inches of rain an hour.

"I hope I never see that," said Indians vice president Bob DiBiasio.

While your local Little League field is lined with a chalky dust, they use spray paint at Jacobs Field to create the batters' boxes and foul lines.

"We haven't used chalk since '98," said grounds crew member Brian Kestranek. "It's less messy."

Weather report: Despite playing home games in Milwaukee and Seattle this season, the Indians were never rained out this season, either at home or on the road. There were four snowouts, but no rainouts. Rain began splattering down on Jacobs Field at 7:08 p.m. The grounds crew had the tarp back on the infield by 7:10. The rain stopped again around 7:40.

Flashing leather: Josh Barfield has the smallest glove on the Indians, an 11 1/4-inch Rawlings model that looks as if it's the size of a mitt you would give your fledgling T-baller.

Barfield said the smallest glove he has heard of is 11 inches.

"You have to have unbelievable hands to have an 11-inch," Barfield said.

He said it takes him about a season to break in a glove. He received his current game glove in 2005. He got a new one during spring training and plans to use it next season.

"You have to be comfortable and trust it," Barfield said. "For an infielder, that's your livelihood."

Television star: FOX Sports had Grady Sizemore videotape a segment before the game in which he introduces the Indians' starting lineup. It took him four takes. Sizemore flubbed the first two and they asked him to do another after a technical glitch during the third. "You're killing me here," Sizemore said good naturedly.

The television cameras did not catch the patched hole in the back of his left pants leg. Sizemore said they are no longer game pants, although some of those have patches as well. He said it usually takes about two slides before he rips a hole in his pants.

A good hurt: Game 3 winning pitcher Jake Westbrook says the back of his right shoulder is typically sore the day after he starts. "When you pitch well and win, for it to be sore is a good thing," he said. "It feels like you've accomplished something. When you lose and it's sore, it stinks."

It floats I: Hitting coach Derek Shelton went onto the field to summon bullpen catcher Danny Williams inside to throw batting practice in the indoor cages next to the Indians clubhouse.

Williams likes to fool around with a knuckleball when he warms up before BP, a skill that can come in handy when the Tribe faces Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Williams said he'll throw the knuckler in BP if the hitters ask.

"It all depends on what they want," he said. "Most of the time just throw it straight."

It floats II: Switch-hitting Victor Martinez, scheduled to play first base Tuesday night, said he always hits right-handed against knuckleballers because someone once told him they are easier to hit from the right side.

"Man, I can't even tell you. It's tough pitch," Martinez said when asked about his strategy against knuckleballers. "You can see the seams clearly, but the ball moves too much. You have to wait for it, because it's that slow."

Martinez likes playing first base when Paul Byrd pitches. Backup catcher Kelly Shoppach has been Byrd's personal catcher this season.

"I'm used to it now, it's a break for me," he said. "I'm 100 percent clear I won't catch 162 games. I really enjoy it and really have fun out there."

Bigtime fan: Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner got former pro wrestler Jerry Lawler tickets to Tuesday's game. Lawler, who flew in from England after working as a commentator at a wrestling show, sat in a section reserved for players' families.

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